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As far as the owner of Woody Bay Cottage was concerned, he’d secured an early-year holiday letting for four keen young walkers. In fact, he’d rented his 18th century property to Flags: a four-piece band who’d decided to head to this small cottage on the cliffs above an isolated rocky cove in North Devon for a very particular purpose.

What came of this week long residency was “Oil and Sparks”, a 4 track EP that's already been described as "catchy, intoxicating and impossible not to fall for" (Rock Britain) and containing the " the warmth and soul of the very house it was created in" (Bristol Live Magazine).

The cottage in Woody Bay was very much a random selection as a writing destination. During their stay, they discovered that over 100 years ago, an eccentric solicitor from Kent had purchased the cove in the hope of creating a popular resort. His dreams came to nothing. He defrauded his investors, went bankrupt, and died in prison, and all that remains of his fond ambitions today are the rotting ruins of a wooden pier.

Flags’ emergence has been a slow and measured one, however they have been favourably received on BBC Introducing, by Brian Kennedy at XFM, played on Amazing Radio and praised by Radio 1’s Zane Lowe as being ‘”O(jiān)ne’s to Watch”. Past gigs have included Proud, the Camden Barfly, and The Queen of Hoxton, plus numerous festival appearances, including Strawberry Fields Festival, Fear of Fiction and Knee Deep Festival.

On stage, they’re a confident, assured and magnetic presence: four very distinct personalities, one very memorable sound.

"Oil and Sparks" is now available on CD and download.